"Oh, I ache!—every bone in me aches!" she sobbed, and for the first time she wept. "That is right," said the old woman, and soothed her with her hand, "now sleep, and I will have something for you when you wake." Her body sank, relaxed, upon the soft boughs, and it was as if a sponge were wiped across her mind, and she slept. Time passed over her; she had no way of knowing if they were minutes or hours that ran by. When she awoke, a gentle, steady humming filled the air; a murmurous, musical sound that calmed every sense. It was like the turning of a great wheel or the rocking of an old cradle. [Pg 16]"What is that?" she asked faintly. [Pg 16] "They are my bees, child," said the old woman. "They have come home." She was slender, with brown eyes like brook water, and though she was wrinkled finely, she was straight and strong, for she lifted up her guest and half carried her to the opposite corner of the hut. "Now wash," she said, "and then you must eat." A cold, deep spring welled up in that corner, and as she plunged her face into it she opened her hot eyes to let the icy water cool them—and gazed at the white moon far below her and the small stars. All space seemed spread before her and she drew out, frightened, but when she glanced quickly at the spring from above, she thought she must have dreamed, for it was like any other spring, only a little deeper. Then she washed her hands till they tingled and warmed. When she had braided her hair afresh she turned[Pg 17] and saw that the old woman had set out a meal for her on the low stool; a brown loaf, a comb of golden honey and an earthen jug of milk. [Pg 17] "Eat, my child," she said. She fell upon the food and it was like wine and meat to her. The blood ran swiftly through her veins again and she forgot the terror and fatigue and the cloud in her mind. "You are most kind to me, mother," she said, for she had lived in the old countries where it is easy to speak kindly to the old; "how do you happen to live here? I should have died but for you. All my
Prev.
Back
Top